Repairing Split Stitches in Finished Items

The previous article in the Knitting 911 series discussed how to repair split stitches found as we are knitting. As explained in that article, these stitches can be easily repaired by locating the stitch, unraveling the column of stitches to the split stitch, repairing that stitch by catching all strands of the yarn, and finally laddering the formerly split stitch and the remaining stitches up to the needle. The fabric no longer shows the split stitch and there is no danger of the stitch pulling or breaking since it has been repaired.

But, what happens if the garment or a section of knitting has been completed and a previously undiscovered split stitch is found? I think we have all had that happen to us and this split stitch can be very visible on Stockinette fabric. This stitch should be repaired so that there is no danger of it being snagged or pulled, and possibly broken. This article will focus on how to repair partially intact split stitches that were found after knitting is completed.

Figure 1 shows a swatch that has been bound off with a split stitch in the center of the swatch. This stitch is intact, however the yarn has been split so that a few strands of the yarn form the stitch and the remainder is hanging in front of the stitch. This error is easy to fix.

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www.TKGA.com 67

K N I T T I N G 911

KNOW HOW TO CORRECTYOUR KNITTING MISTAKES!

by Binka Schwan

FIGURE 1: Stockinette swatch with split stitch FIGURE 2: Crochet hook placed into live stitch in preparation for repair, non-public to public side.

Copyright 2014 The Knitting Guild Association. Cast On content is for readers' personal use and may not be shared or reproduced without permission from the editors.

Cast On • August – October 201468

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Using a crochet hook, and working from the non-public side to the public side, grab the yarn that is split and broken and bring it to the non-public side of the work so it's not visible on the public side. Only the partial intact stitch is showing. Figure 2 shows how to grab the stitch and Figure 3 shows the

non-public side with the partially stranded stitch pulled from the front to the back. If you feel that enough yarn has been left for the stitch, and that the stitch is strong, the only thing you will have to do is secure the yarn from the split/broken stitch on the non-public side. Using sewing thread the same color as your knitting will work for this. Securing the yarn will prevent it from migrating to the public side of the work. Or, the better choice is to duplicate stitch over the broken stitch with the same yarn that was originally used for the project.

To do this, thread a piece of the same yarn that was used for the project and insert it, from back to front, into the base of the split stitch, leaving a tail that can be woven in on the non-public side. Bring the yarn up and around the thin split stitch and back down into the base of the split stitch. I have used a different color yarn in this example to show the duplicate stitch process. Figure 4 shows the one stitch that was split, but now is intact and secure. You have duplicate stitched one stitch – the stitch that is thinner and broken and is a result of the split. That is all you need to do. No more stitches need to be duplicate-stitched. Weave in the yarn tails on the non-public side and catch and secure the loops from the split that were brought to the non-public side as you weave in the yarn tails. Figure 5 shows the repaired non-public side of the swatch.

If the split stitch has not yet broken, it is very easy to repair by using the duplicate stitch method as described above. The duplicate stitching will hide and secure the split stitch and the fabric will be strong at this point.

What happens if the stitch breaks completely and leaves a hole? Or, what if there is a hole in the fabric from moths? Those problems are harder to repair and will be discussed in the next article of the series.

References:Atherley, Kate. Repairing Knitwear, http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATrepairs101.html, Spring, 2006.Atherly, Kate. Interweave Knits Presents: Fixing Knitting Mistakes with Kate Atherley HD Video. Loveland Colorado: Interweave Press, 2013.Crockett, Rena. Flawless Knit Repair, Self-Published, 1998.Schwan, Binka. Knitting 911 – Split Stitches, Cast On, May – July, 2014, pp 63. Stanley, Montse. Reader’s Digest Knitter’s Handbook. Pleasantville, NY: The Reader’s Digest Associations, 2001.

FIGURE 3: Non-public side of swatch showing strand from the stitch.

FIGURE 4: Duplicate stitch on public side.

FIGURE 5: Non-public side of swatch showing duplicate stitch tail weaves.

Copyright 2014 The Knitting Guild Association. Cast On content is for readers' personal use and may not be shared or reproduced without permission from the editors.